Writing instrument



May 31, 1932. o PUTNAM 1,861,241

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 11, 1930 M QPWM IN VEN TOR.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED STATES FRANK O. PUTNAM,

OF DALLAS, TEXAS \VRITING INSTRUMENT Application filed November 11, 1930.

This invention relates to stationery supplies and it has particular reference to writ ing instruments such as pens, pencils and the like and the principal object of the invention (J resides in the provision of an improved pen staff, in whose construction is embodied certain features, the purpose of which is to instruct a student of the proper position in which the pen or pencil, as the case may be,

is to be held during a course of study of penmanship, drawing and the like and to constrain the pupil to properly hold the pen staff in a certain position and to prevent his gradual dropping back into individually assumed positions.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a new article of manufacture of the type specified, of simple and economical construction and of lasting qualities and 29 particularly adapted for schools for the instruction of penmanship especially of pupils in primary grades, although the invention has been found to be very effective in instruction work of adults and its construction is even such that business people who do considerable longhand writing find great satisfaction, in that the pen staff embodying the invention may be comfortably held in the hand of the writer.

30 With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the position of the pen staff embodying the invention as the same is held in the hand of the user.

Figure 8 is a perspective end view.

Figure 4; is a further perspective view of the end of the pen staff, with portions broken away to illustrate the position of the pen retaining member, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the pen stafl' taken at a quarter angle on Figure 1.

Students of penmanship, especially those receiving their first instruction in handwrit- 59 ing are prone to grip the pen staff at a point Serial No. 494,852.

thereon very close to the pen and as a result thereof frequently fall into the habit of writing with simply a finger movement which, if permitted to continue, results in a cramped condition of the hand and causes the student to form very small characters. Instructors in penmanship find it very difiicult to discourage in the student this manner of gripping the pen staff and rather attempt to encourage the pupil to hold the staff loosely and 60 resort to the use of the forearm, which results in the perfection of larger and more legible characters, not to mention the fact that such a movement lessens the strain upon the hand of the pupil and enables him to continuously white without fatigue.

Accordingly, 1 designates a reduced portion on the pen stafi, which is gradually increased toward the lower end into the enlargement 2, so formed to conveniently fit between the fingers of the writer. It is understood however, that this particular form may be altered from time to time to suit various requirements, in view of the fact that this particular form is especially adapted for primary students and may not be found desirable for business use.

A depression 3 is made on one side of the enlargement 2 of the pen staff which is curved gradually outward, terminating in a protuberance 4, projecting beyond the common surface of the said enlargement 2. Thus is provided a depression conforming to the end of the thumb and affords a stop to prevent the thumb from sliding downward toward the end of the pen stafi, as shown in Figure 2, which figure illustrates the position of the hand and relative position of the pen staff when writing with the well known muscular movement method. It will be observed, par ticularly in Figure 5 that the depression 3, in defining the curvature referred to, follows a curve on a different plane onto the protuberance 4, to better receive the end of the thumb and to thus insure accurate position of the reduced portion 1 of the pen staff relative to the first knuckle of the index finger, as shown in Figure 2, which is a necessary or to say the least, desirable position in writing.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4:, a ferrule 5 is provided and insertable into the recess in the operative end of the pen staff. This ferrule is slotted at a to a point adjacent its inner end to define a yielding segment, designated by the character 6. It is also pointed out that a bead 7 is formed around the upper edge of the ferrule and continues partially around the said upper end. This bead affords a stop to hold the ferrule in the proper position to receive therpen 8.

Since the segment 6 of the ferrule 5 is depressible, the pen 8 may be readily insertable at the point where the bead 7 is separated. Obviously then, in view of the interference at any other point presented by the presence of the bead 7 the pen 8 can be inserted in only one position, which position is determined according to the position of the protuberance 4:, as it is necessary that the nibs 9 of the pen 8 rest directly on the paper or writing material at the proper angle. Therefore, the peculiar shape and position of the ferrule 5 and its position relative to the protuberance 4 and depression 3 causes the pupil to properly insert the pen point into the pen stafi without any instructions in this regard, since there is only one position in which the pen 8 can be inserted.

The foregoing description deals with only one form of the invention and the latter has been so described therein that a description of operation is regarded as being unnecessary and it is understood that any changes and modifications may be resorted to from time to time without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention so long as such changes and modifications remain Within the scope and meaning of what is herein claimed.

hat is claimed is:

A pen holder having a nib-receiving end and having a substantially flat face which extends downwardly at an incline toward the nib-receiving end of the holder and a thumb end-engaging face at the front terminal of said first named face which extends upwardly therefrom toward the nib end and at an obtuse angle relative to said face and which also extends oblique to the longitudinal axis of the holder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK O. PUTNAM. 

